Stillness as a Competence of Design Intelligence

ABSTRACT According to Cross (2006), designing can be viewed as a form of intelligence so that its competences can be identified, clarified and cultivated. This paper reviews and extends existing design literature by refining the language that describes design-intelligence and the identification, clarification and cultivation of design-intelligence competences. This paper also reports on an initial study that used an Enhanced Reflective Practice Reporting Template within the context of professional practice to highlight: a) the value of improving a designer's professional inner self-awareness through reflective practice enhanced with non-analytical mental training techniques, and b) that such processes can aid access to a range of mental states helpful for coping with design uncertainty. Furthermore, the concept of 'stillness' as a competence of design-intelligence to manage the experience of the effects of design uncertainty resolution is introduced and discussed. This paper concludes that increased inner self-awareness and the ability to access mental states of stillness can help designers to become present to the possibility of transforming both themselves and the world through design. Thus enabling a fuller appreciation of the creative potential in design situations.